Dell brings Linux to its latest XPS 13 laptop

Have you coveted the Skylake-powered version of Dell's near-borderless XPS 13 laptop, but wished it would ship with an open platform like Linux instead of Windows? Now's your chance. Dell has released a new version of its XPS 13 Developer Edition that comes with Ubuntu Linux 14.04 out of the box. You'll need a deep bank account to buy one right now, as your only current choices are high-end Core i7 models (with a quad HD+ touchscreen) that start at a lofty $1,550. You can finally get a Linux-based XPS 13 with 16GB of RAM, however, and there are promises of a far more frugal Core i5 system with 8GB of RAM and a non-touch display.

Pros looking for portables have reason to celebrate, too. You can now snag a Precision 3510, 5510, 7510 or 7710 mobile workstation with Ubuntu, giving you some extra computing power (including Xeon chips and a 4K display option) in your open source rig. Linux machines may still be more of a side project at Dell than the main event, but you won't have to settle for sub-par gear.

Jon has been hooked on tech ever since he tried a Compaq PC clone when he was five. He's big on mobile and is one of those precious few people who wears his smartwatch with pride. He's also an unapologetic Canadian: Don't be surprised if you get an earful about poutine or the headaches with Canadian carriers.